Chapter 20 A Chance With Her
Chapter 20 A Chance With Her
TARA
I was still asking myself all the What’s and Why’s when Aidan spoke.
“I can hear the wheels turning in your head, Tara,” he said through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. “Ask me whatever it is going through your mind.”
My denial was instant. “I don’t want to ask you anything. I prefer us going in circles.”
He put the flower he was holding down, and he turned to me. “Nadia is mine, isn’t she?”
I swallowed hard as I mulled over his words. It was obvious that Nadia was his, but then, we couldn’t easily forget the fact that I tried to tell him when I got pregnant with her and he sent me away.
Having the conversation this time around meant he was ready to acknowledge it, and that could mean many different things that I didn’t want to face, so I had a hard time letting my answer out.
“Why do you care all of a sudden?” I asked instead. “You were more than happy to cast us aside before. You said I cheated on you, and you had proof. Maybe she belongs to who it was then,” I said with a shrug, fighting past the painful lump in my throat.
Aidan growled possessively, telling me that his wolf didn’t like what I just said.
It was obviously a lie as I had never been with, or so much as looked at another person when we were together, but I just wanted to say anything to get him to leave us alone.
Aidan spoke. “I can feel it, and it can’t be denied, Tara. I know I fucked up, but I’m here now, and I deserve a chance with her.”
A gasp escaped my lips, and I didn’t know when I tossed the items in my hand aside and slammed both of my fists into Aidan’s broad chest.
The guts!
“A chance? To hell with you, Aidan! Screw you, okay?” I yelled, shoving him back, but he didn’t move, neither did he fight me back. “Fine! You want to talk, let’s talk,” I said through my fury.
Oh, he was so going to get it.
What the hell? After all this time. After everything he did, Aidan still dared to tell me he deserved a chance with my daughter?
The same one he was so happy to get rid of the moment he heard about her?
Anger like I had never known before threatened to blind me, and I found it so difficult to keep my voice down.
“What happened, Tara?” Aidan asked, and I hated how calm he was taking all of this. “I can’t wrap my head around how it’s possible… how she’s possible, but I need to know,” he said, running a hand through his hair as he referred to Nadia. “I had reason to believe you were dead, and now I realize I have an eight–year–old?”
I scoffed as I took a step back. “Of course, you had reason to believe WE were dead. I mean, why wouldn’t you? You hurt me, Aidan,” I accused, tears blurring my vision. “I trusted you, and you betrayed me in the worst possible ways, and for some magical reason now, you want my daughter? Are you serious right now?”
Aidan didn’t deny any of my accusations. “I want you both, Tara,” he said in defense, and I shook my head. “And I didn’t believe it because…” he paused.
“Because what, Aidan?” I asked, taking another step forward. “Because you saw some pictures?”
“Not just that,” he said after a deep breath, and I waited for him to explain further, but what did I get? Silence and heavy labored breaths.
A humorless laugh erupted from my chest, and I shook my head. “Really, Aidan? You really think you stand a chance with me and my daughter if you don’t fully open up to me?” My voice was getting louder. “You come here with a pitiful explanation
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12:42 PM
Chapter 20 A Chance With Her
and a sorry–ass apology, and I should just jump? Is that it?”
D
+10 Free Coins
If there was more to Aidan’s side of the story, I deserved to know. If he didn’t think so, then he didn’t deserve anything from me either. And that meant we were done talking.
The pain from all those years ago hit me afresh, and it took everything in me to hold the tears back from flooding down my
face.
Not only did I have to be the one to endure that much pain, but it was still me who carried the guilt of Nadia having to grow up without being part of a completely functional family.
And all he wanted to do was show up with a pretty face and suit, half explanations, and everything was going to be okay?
“She didn’t get to know her grandfather. Or her grandmother,” I sobbed. “She didn’t even get a chance to see my pack, which is where she should have been raised, and that was because I had to run. To survive. Because of you!”
Aidan shook his head. “I understand, and I’m sorry. That’s why I just want to make things right, Tara.”
“This is not the way,” I deadpanned, sniffing. “Sorry doesn’t fix the destroyed years, Aidan. I can’t let you into her life if I still have these thoughts of you betraying me again. Betraying us,” I said. “I can’t put my kid’s life in danger. She’s all I’ve got, and I hope you can understand that.”
I just couldn’t do it.
